Tag Archives: sore joints

If this post seems like an infomercial – it is. I have become wildly obsessed with Astaxanthin – a supplement I had never heard about until I discovered that it is ‘sunblock you can eat.’ As someone who has meticulously dissected all the chemicals in the average sunblock and concluded that the only non-toxic ingredient (zinc) is one that makes me look like a real vampire, I have long worn picture hats and avoided the sun from 12-2. All that has changed now that I have discovered Astaxanthin. I have been taking it for months now and am in the sun a fair bit – but no burning! And my nails have become long and strong – very unusual for me!

We spend approximately one third of our lives in bed. With such a large proportion of our lives spent in one place, it makes sense that this area is important to our health. However, many people do not take the health implications of a badly maintained sleeping area seriously, and are oblivious to the diseases and conditions that can be caused.

Statistics show that after 10 years, a mattress will double in weight due to dust mites or bed bugs. These creatures will feed off skin cells and produce allergens in the mattress. This in turn leads to respiratory conditions being triggered such as asthma, but also symptoms more commonly associated with hay fever such as runny nose, irritation in the eyes and lungs and sneezing. A survey carried out in the UK found that one in eight people changed their bed sheets less often than once a month and 27 percent were sleeping on mattresses more than 10 years old.

While it’s well-known that an older mattress can be a source of allergies — mostly from dust mites or mold — a new mattress would be worry-free.

Or would it?

Some 30 or more years ago, mattresses were made of untreated, natural materials, but now most come to the store bearing a host of petrochemicals, flame retardants and other additives. Continue reading →